Blood and Thunder Part I — Chapter XVI
High Camp, Ayram Alusìng — That Same Evening
"Do not believe the words of that vrrtep!" Neytiri cried out, her voice trailing after Jake as they walked along a concealed path, deliberately hiding themselves from prying eyes and curious ears of the camp.
"I'm not on his side," Jake asserted, visibly restraining the irritation that he had been feeling for the past two hours. "I'm trying to think ahead; to think for our People."
"It!" She angrily corrected her mate as she caught up with him. "Do not dare call that curse a he! And you are not thinking for our People. That, treaty, or however you say it, does not benefit our People. It is asking us to leave our ancestral home, Jeyk. The only home our People have ever known!"
Jake quickly glanced around and noticed that others of the camp were overhearing their argument. Sensing the concern etched across their faces, he swiftly grabbed her arm and ushered her up the path.
"Take your hand off!" Neytiri cried defiantly at her mate.
"Shush," Jake whispered. While he favored the seclusion of the waterfall, he anticipated that their children would naturally desire to find their parents. He selected a spot closer to the mountain's surface where the warriors had withdrawn for the night, and where it was also impossible for anyone else to eavesdrop on them. He continued to guide her until they reached the surface top and where, beneath the realm of the cosmic sky, their figures blended seamlessly with the adumbration of the night, and aside from the soft glow of the dots that outlined their body, there was nothing else that could be discern from their blue forms.
"Are you attempting to silence my voice?" There was an air of challenge in Neytiri's tone. She respected Jake much more than anyone ever could but she was beginning to feel belittled by him. Especially after tonight.
Jake furrowed his brow, taken aback by her question. He had never intended to hurt her, but in that moment, he simply wanted her to keep quiet to avoid drawing attention to their location. In his effort to reason with her, he explained, "I'm not doing anything—"
Neytiri forcefully yanked her arm free from his grasp. Stepping back, she maintained her piercing gaze on Jake as she said, "—you are falling for that vrrtep's trap! Even a blind child can see that. But not you! You are too much of a fool for listening to its words!"
"Neytiri," Jake said softly, hoping to calm her. "We do not have a choice."
As Jake drew nearer, Neytiri instinctively rose onto her tiptoes, keeping a slight distance between them to prevent their bodies from touching. Her voice then carried a tone of admonishment as she addressed him. "You do have a choice ma Jeyk, but you are accepting a choice from a demon that will get us killed!"
"How? How is the treaty going to get us killed? He is trying to help us! To protect us!"
"Gah!" She flung her arms up in exasperation at Jake's nonsensical runaround. "Then answer my question," she demanded, "How can you trust that demon after what the Sky People have done to us?"
"I—" Jake was fully prepared to answer her question, having explained this countless times to Neytiri. But when he tried to get the answer out, he couldn't. His words were held hostage behind a mind too lost in its own constructed labyrinth. Preventing him from speaking what was repeated so many times before. Instead, the enigma of his mind played dangerously close to the rationale that individuals like Norm and the other ex-program scientists were still good people. People who were willing to protect the Na'vi, people whom Jake could wholeheartedly trust with his life. Yet, the avatar part of him, the part that had embraced the Na'vi way of life, whispered a different truth.
For how much longer?
He reminded himself that when the RDA returned, many betrayed the Na'vi in order to save themselves, hoping to prove to Ardmore that they were able and willing to do anything it took to stay alive. Not Norm or some of the other scientists who risked their own lives to follow the Omatikaya out to the Hallelujah Mountains, but…
For how much longer, Jake?
Because what Neytiri and the rest of the Na'vi knew was an undeniable truth: Humans—the Sky People—were fallible, immoral creatures whose greatest concerns were with the greed of this world, and as such, were willing to destroy the world and the Na'vi in it to obtain what has become their obsession.
He didn't necessarily believe that his friends would intentionally harm the Na'vi, but their obsession with the Na'vi was evident in how they interacted with them. Many of them wanted to be close to the Na'vi, some even sought romantic relationships out with the Na'vi. And while these connections seemed harmless at first glance, he was beginning to understand Neytiri's point.
They were not Na'vi, and thus they couldn't fully comprehend the true risks at stake. Norm himself had the option of surrendering himself to the RDA tomorrow if he wanted to and the only thing he will face is imprisonment, with the certainty of eventually being sent back to Earth. Death wasn't a looming threat for him, and he understood this choice. However, Jake, Neytiri, and the rest of the Na'vi were not afforded such alternatives or guarantees.
In some respect, this explained why Norm and the other drivers didn't commit themselves to their avatars like Jake did. They held onto their human forms as collateral, a fallback plan that can get them out of Pandora if need be.
It is only a matter of time, Jake.
Quietly, Jake's spirits sank as her question echoed within the depths of his mind, leaving behind a lingering doubt: What about Rayan Asher? Could he be trusted? Could the Na'vi trust him?
The answer seemed unequivocal—no—and yet, Jake wasn't completely sure.
The problem he had in answering that question largely stemmed from the obvious fact that both the UNE and RDA saw eye-to-eye. That much was apparent even during Jake's time on Earth. Both factions functioned as a benefactor to the other. A cooperative relationship where they relied on each other and in times of great stresses, they gave each other a hand when needed. So then—why now give the RDA an ultimatum by those who only wanted them to succeed?
Was it due to doubts surrounding the RDA's intentions on Pandora? Or perhaps, a deeper fear resided within them—the kind of apprehension that continued acts of violence against the Na'vi by the RDA would ignite an internal political strife within the UNE, potentially leading countries to drop their support in buying unobtanium directly from the RDA.
After all, no one wants to be that country who funded a genocide on another world.
Such repercussions would be catastrophic. Entire economies would implode overnight, leaving millions jobless and plunging them into the depths of hunger as they scrounge for means to feed their families. Spontaneous riots would erupt alongside this, and governments would find themselves battling against their own citizens. Anarchy would sweep across Earth, and its colonies would seize the opportunity to distance themselves economically and politically from their crumbling homeworld. The once-unified world and its systems would fracture, resulting in the loss of countless lives.
All because the UNE didn't trust the RDA's word?
It didn't make sense.
In either scenario, it became abundantly clear to Jake that the UNE's control and influence over Pandora extended far beyond his initial understanding. The days of the RDA hiding behind bureaucratic shareholders making decisions solely based on financial gain, were gone. What Jake and Neytiri witnessed earlier this year went beyond the calculations of corporate accountants seeking to maximize profits through destructive means. No, it had to be the UNE pulling the strings, orchestrating the deployment of a fleet of ISVs that eventually led to them turning their engines on the surface of Pandora. Not because they wanted to clear whole sections of the forest to build their colony. But because they wanted to show the Na'vi that it was now impossible to fight against all of Earth.
'You know… this isn't over.'
Parker's words resurfaced, echoing from the depths of the past, and surrounded Jake's thoughts like a relentless predator, refusing to release its grip. At the time, Jake dismissed the man's words as a feeble attempt to intimidate him and the Na'vi. How could a man who was merely a puppet, manipulated by shareholders back on Earth, pose a genuine threat? But as time passed, Jake began to see it for what it truly was—a warning. A warning that there were far more powerful forces at play other than the RDA, forces that would come to learn of what transpired here all those years ago and descend upon Pandora to determine the fate of the Na'vi.
What he hadn't anticipated was that this reckoning would come in the form of a single individual—Rayan Asher.
The treaty Rayan presented to Jake wasn't just a treaty—it was an ultimatum. If Jake refused to sign it, then he would only prove to the UNE that the RDA was right. However, if Jake signed the treaty and Rayan found no hostile intentions from the Na'vi towards the RDA, there was a slim chance of survival and the possibility of peace for the Na'vi.
But there was a problem. Jake knew the RDA well enough that if they so desired, they could fabricate a casus belli, creating a false justification to declare war against the Na'vi based on some UNE rule. This was why the treaty also aimed to protect the Na'vi by relocating them far and away from any RDA operations on Pandora. To deny the RDA of that possibility. So then maybe Rayan is trying to help them, because if it was anyone else, they might not have pointed that fact out. But who was going to care when no one back on Earth gave a damn about the Na'vi? It didn't matter if Rayan managed to help the Na'vi. It wouldn't even matter if Rayan somehow became a convert and tried to go back to Earth to warn everyone that what the RDA was doing here was criminal. Because what Jake knew was an obvious fact: No one cared about the Na'vi.
And as Jake gazed into Neytiri's eyes, he began to question himself if peace, like unobtanium, had become his own obsession. An impossibility. A fantasy.
The way he saw it, there was no way of winning a fight against the RDA or the UNE. If he chose to fight, the Na'vi would be destroyed. It didn't matter if all the animals rallied around the Na'vi to fight the RDA. The RDA had the upper-hand in both numbers, guns and resources. If Ardmore wanted to (and Jake rightly believed she could), she would have the Hallelujah Mountains turn to cinder tonight. But if he signed the treaty, it would buy Jake time to secure his people and find a suitable place for them to live, and it would provide them with the opportunity to develop a long-term plan to protect themselves from the RDA in the years to come.
Nevertheless, the treaty still came with a cost. The cost of their freedom in exchange for peace. The cost of paranoia for another day of life.
He would need more time to delegate these options as each thought converged together, seeking something to say as his mind resumed to the present time. Staring at Neytiri, Jake slumped back and averted his gaze. "—I don't know," he confessed.
She held herself for a moment, her arms crossing, a habit she picked up from Jake whenever he was pensive and deep in concentration.
"Jeyk," her voice carried a gentle plea. "They will not stop. They will keep coming for us, and if you sign this treaty, where will we go? Across the sea where our children will forget where they come from? How will you tell our grandchildren of what our home was like? How can you explain to them what a tree of the forest looks like? What it is like to hear the sounds of the forest? To know that their souls belong here and not out there! How do I tell our People that they must leave the home of their parents? They will be heartbroken, Jeyk."
Jake inhaled the cool evening air, his thoughts drifting once again before turning to face her.
"And what happens if I don't?" The question, however simple, was asked in earnest. As Jake neither had an idea or a plan to confront the impending destruction that Asher had claimed was coming for them if he did not sign the treaty.
Neytiri's tail swayed with contemplation to his question, mirroring the currents of her thoughts as she held her gaze with him. Moments stretched out, as if time itself held its breath in anticipation before Jake heard her sigh heavily to his question.
"They will find us, ma Jeyk," she acknowledged, her words an acceptance of the stark reality that, irrespective of their actions, the relentless Sky People would inevitably find them and kill them.
"So you want us to keep running?" asked Jake.
She opened her mouth but paused before finally saying, "…no."
The weight of Neytiri's answer carried the burden of her pain. One she desperately desired her Jeyk to understand. But it remained impossible for him to fully know as his life began as an adult and not as a child of the Omatikaya. His only comparable pain was that of his brother, this… Tommy, who was to be the soul of the flesh Jake existed in currently. In the years they have been together, she never made light of Tommy's death. Knowing they grew together, and shared a life together, much like her and Sylwanin. But his death, as terrible as it was and forever marked into Jake's memories, was made bearable through time.
Hers did not.
Beneath the gentle glow of Naranawm, Neytiri stood silently next to Tsu'tey, watching together as her father and mother lowered Sylwanin's lifeless body into the earth. Her mother, always strong before her daughters, no matter what was happening, began to sing a blessing to Sylwanin as tears fell from her eyes.
The weight of her mother's grief pressed against Neytiri's chest, throbbing like a relentless war drum as she witnessed her mother slowly breaking apart. She had always counted on her mother to be the strong one, but now she realized there were limits even for her. And through her mother's heartbreak, Neytiri felt guilt ensnare her own heart. Trapping her with torturous anguish and seizing her with relentless torment that only whispered: It should have been me.
As Neytiri delved deeper into the abyss of this deceit, she felt the pain tear open the wounds of her soul, stripping her bare and exposing her innocence to the brutal truth, that this was…
…my fault.
Eventually, Sylwanin's friends arrived, each one dropping a leaf of her favorite plant—Liana—over her body. When it came time for Neytiri to do the same, she hesitated and looked towards her father, debating with herself if she should. He motioned to her to come closer, encouraging her to let go of the leaf. But Neytiri didn't. She glanced into the open grave and imagined seeing Sylwanin cradled in her own arms, her eyes pleading and her trembling mouth attempting to speak, only to have blood trickle from the corner of her lips before succumbing to her wounds. Instead of dropping the leaf, Neytiri held it in her hand as she turned in a moment of panic and fled back into the forest with no clear destination in mind, trusting her feet to guide her to the solace she desperately sought.
Without knowing it, she found herself back at Augustine's school where her sister's blood still stained the floorboards. She gently ran her hand over the lingering crimson stain, recalling the moment of Sylwanin's passing before capitulating to the weight of her grief and crumbling to the floor. Laying there, sobbing, her gaze started to drift upon the worn wooden door, the echoes of her past with Sylwanin returning to her like an ancient flame.
'There is nothing to be afraid of!' Her older sister assured a young Neytiri. She always had a smile that made Neytiri feel safe, no matter if there was a palulukan around a tree or if father was angry that day. And for a while, Neytiri wasn't so sure about coming to this strange structure that sat in the middle of the forest. Not until Sylwanin showed her that it was perfectly safe by walking up the steps and spreading her arms to her sister, showing her that no harm will come upon them.
And for a time, Neytiri believed her. But it was only for a time.
'There is good in all. Even among the Sky People, there is sometimes good.' Her sister reminded her a few days before being murdered.
How naïve, Neytiri thought as she sat up, her trembling hands wiping away the tears. The leaf she had been holding this entire time pricked her palms, the sharp sensation causing her to release the broken pieces over the worn floorboards. Glancing down, the cool evening breeze blew the pieces away as the realization of why she came here finally settled in her heart. She wanted to infuse the pain of her sister's death with her soul, and to keep to herself what Jeyk would call, a promise. A promise to her People that such a pain can only be her burden to carry.
"Then what will you have me do, Neytiri? Fight?" Jake's words shook through the air, jolting Neytiri out of the maze of her ruminations.
As she looked back up to him, a maelstrom of conflicting emotions brewed at the precipice of her frustration. She was tempted to answer his question with a yes but in that flicker of hesitation, she held back her answer. Her entire life was to the People. To protect them, as her father had instructed her to do so. But at the same time, there was the poison of her heart coursing through her veins, infecting her with the treachery that what must be done will require violence and blood. For if she allowed her People to follow Jake, then soon enough, the Sky People will find them. And like Sylwanin, they will be slain. Blood will not be on Jake but on her.
She could not allow that to happen.
And as Jake stood before her, patiently awaiting her response, he delved into the depths of her enigmatic stare, desperate to find her answer before her lips could utter it. His gaze traced along the contours of her furrowed brow, where he glimpsed the elusive answer attempting to escape, as if to evade not only her, but also him as well.
"You do, don't you?" He told her.
Neytiri, the warrior who defeated the greatest demon of them all, remained silent.
"And then what, Neytiri? You want me to keep fighting until there is nothing left of us? Our boys are going to be of an age where they will have to fight. You want them out there fighting? What about Kiri? And Tuktirey? You want them fighting alongside their father? You want them to die? Is that it?"
Such images of her children fighting alongside Jake caused her hands to clench, the nails biting into her palms as she suppressed the spiraling chaos of a singular emotion: anger.
She wanted Jake to stop and think about this, but the rage of the warrior commanded her to remain silent, at least until—
"Because I don't," Jake's voice trembled with emotion as his hand instinctively pressed against his chest. "I want them to grow up as our kids. Not as soldiers, ready and willing to die out there." Jake's gaze momentarily swept across their surroundings, his hand running through his hair, utterly exhausted as he tried to figure a way out of this mess before one last final burgeoning question exploded out from his mouth.
"What do you want me to do?"
And there it was.
As if in response, the rain began to fall, its gentle patter soaking both Jake and Neytiri's faces. The droplets mingled with her tears as they locked eyes, the overwhelming surge of resentment rising within her, fueled by the pain of the wound he managed to rip open. And then, as if summoned from the depths of this wound, the faint image of Sylwanin's body in the grave flashed across her vision. The broken pieces of the leaf falling over her.
No more.
"I want you to fight!" she shouted; her voice carried by the roaring downpour.
"And die?!" his voice thundered, defiantly pushing against her desperate plea.
"Yes!" Neytiri's voice cracked with misery, her words slicing through the tempestuous air. "Yes! I want you to die!"
The warrior finally erupted as her clenched fists struck Jake's chest. Each strike carried the weight of her pain and the echo of her shattered heart, unleashing a cataclysm of raw emotion with unyielding and relentless assault. Against each blow, she saw the haunting faces of her beloved ones, lost and gone forever.
Eytukan. Tsu'tey. Sylwanin. The People who perished in Kelutral. Those who died defending their lands. All of them.
The abrupt onslaught caught Jake off guard, causing him to stagger backwards, his balance wavering until he tripped and fell to the ground. His body smacked against the rocky ground, the rain temporarily blinding him as Neytiri lunged over him. She didn't stop. Consumed by her grief, she continued hitting his chest without mercy.
"My children will be protected, my People will be protected!" she shouted, the rain falling harder over them. "But you will die for what you have done!"
"And what have I done?!" Jake shouted, his grip tightening as he caught her wrists, subduing her relentless attack.
Her eyes blazed with the fiery indignation of every single dead Na'vi as she leaned in closer, her voice trembling. "You, you..." she struggled to find the words to convey her seething fury. "You should have killed that demon when you had the chance!"
With a firm grip on his choker, she pulled herself even closer, their foreheads now pressed together, denying Jake any escape from her piercing gaze. Raindrops trickled down their intertwined bodies, their faces shrouded by a curtain of her wet hair, shielding them from the outside world. "But you! You have brought the disease of your people back to us! You should have let me killed it! You should have let me kill ALL of them! Your friends! The boy who spends time with Kiri should be dead! Each day, Jeyk, I think of how to kill them. How I could snap their necks if I wanted to. How I can scalp their hair. How I can disembowel them. Throw them over the cliff and watch their tiny little bodies fall to the ground! How I can kill every last one of them and not feel anything! All because my life was destroyed by your kind!"
Her words erupted from her throat in a primal scream, infused with agony that shook through the rain-soaked air. "My father died because of you! I lost my own sister, Jeyk, my sister—to you!"
It wasn't true but it felt true to Jake.
"Agh!" She let loose a string of curses into the air before leaning in once more. "Go," she whispered, shivering against his head. "Go and die if you care for my People! But you will NOT take my children or my People with you!"
With her grip loosened on his choker, Neytiri's chest rose and fell with each heavy breath, her energy depleted from the emotional outpouring. A chilling stillness settled between them, accentuated by the gentle patter of raindrops. She remained seated, her mind engulfed in thoughts of death, the weight of her emotions threatening to consume her. Sensing the dangerous precipice she teetered on, Neytiri knew she had to withdraw before the darkness within her overtook her love for Jeyk.
Jake tried to reach out to her, to grab her hand and pull her back but she smacked his hand away. His arm falling against the ground, making a splashed thud. Slowly, she rose to her feet, her gaze fixed on the ground—on Jake, a mixture of pain and resignation weighing on her face. Without speaking another word, she turned away, her footsteps fading with the rain as she made her way back to High Camp.
The rain continued its relentless downpour, drenching Jake's body as he lay on the damp ground, his gaze drifting with the clouds that partially revealed the swirling colors of the gas giant above. The past several seconds played over and over again, her words forced on loop in his mind, unsure what had manifested within her that led her to say that she wanted him to die.
"What the hell are you doin', Jake?" he whispered amidst the patter of rain, fully aware that there would be no answer. As he watched the celestial display above, it seemed to taunt him, evoking memories of nights spent lying on puddled-filled alleyways of cities, forced to stare up at a mechanical sky of speeding trains and glaring advertisements.
Chanting drunkenly at the sky: If it ain't rainin'; we ain't trainin'!
That was… twenty years ago, kid. Where did you go?
The Next Morning
With each passing minute, the hum of voices, the shuffle of footsteps, and the distant echoes of concern gradually descended upon the Sully marui, permeating the surrounding air with an unsettling energy. And with daylight presumably an hour away from breaking through the cool morning skies, it shouldn't be this loud or... annoying.
"Dad!" Neteyam cried out as he bursted through the entrance. "Dad! Wake up!"
A soft groan fell out from Jake's mouth as he rolled around in bed, unsure whether this was Neteyam's way of trying to get him to go hunting with him again or one of Jake's nightmares from last night.
"Give me a few minutes, Net," pleaded a sleepy Jake.
"Dad! Mom is gone!"
Jake's ears perked up, his groggy eyes widening in alarm as he looked across to his eldest. "What?"
"Mom! She's gone!"
Jake's mind raced as he pieced together the fragments of the previous night. Neytiri made it abundantly clear to both Jake and Amanti that she was going to spare her riders of another day of guiding the Tipani, opting instead for a day of rest for her riders and their ikrans. And as far as he remembered, Amanti was on board with it. So was Jake. Sadly that night ended with Neytiri refusing to join him in bed, choosing to be alone in a marui with Peyral and the other single women who resided near the corner of camp. At least Jake knew where she was, even if she wanted nothing to do with him that night. But then why was his boy so upset about Neytiri being gone? Did she go down below to forage for fruits and nuts? Maybe to harvest teylu? He hoped she didn't. The last thing he needed right now was for her to be captured by SEC-OPS.
"Where. Did. She. Go?" Jake demanded.
"I do not know!"
Tuktirey groaned at the disturbance of her sleep, prompting Jake to soothe his baby girl. "Sshh, it's okay, go back to sleep."
"W-what is going on?" Murmured Tuk-tuk.
"Nothing," he lied. "Go back to sleep."
Slipping out of bed, Jake walked Neteyam out of the marui to give Tuktirey her sleep. Outside, Peyral, Ninat, and Kiri were standing around, discussing about Neytiri's disappearance.
"Why did mom leave?" The teenage girl asked.
Ninat, the singer, quizzically looked over to Peyral who was the last to see her.
"I believe she left to help the Tipani," answered Peyral.
"How do you know?" Ninat asked.
Peyral looked at the singer then at Kiri. "Because that is what I would have done."
Immediately, Jake interjected. "Where is she?"
Peyral and Ninat snapped to attention to the Olo'eyktan. "Forgive me, Olo'eyktan," Peyral greeted Jake. "I am afraid that Neytiri left High Camp to help the Tipani."
"But I thought she was going to do that tomorrow with you and the other riders?"
Peyral shared an expression that suggested the same sentiment. Bowing her head, she offered her apology. "Forgive me, Olo'eyktan. She did not share with me or the other riders of this new plan of hers."
"Sonuvabitch!" Jake cried.
"What are you going to do, dad?" Lo'ak asked, posing the hard questions, with Neteyam and Kiri standing by, their worried faces mirroring their concerned hearts.
"Get her." He said through clenched teeth.
"Can I come?" Neteyam asked. Lo'ak quickly said the same thing.
"No," Jake answered to each of them.
"But… dad, mom needs our help," said Lo'ak.
"Just my help, Lo'ak. Just mine."
As Jake made his way back to the family marui, a faintly familiar voice reached his ears, begging for his attention but Jake was far too focused on gathering his belongings to give it a second thought. Casting a quick glance at the bed, his gaze fell upon Tuktirey, who was rolling around, trying desperately to sleep. Leaning over, he tenderly planted a kiss upon her forehead.
"I'll be right back, sweetheart." He said, brushing her hair before turning to leave the tent.
"Jake!" The voice called out to him once more, but Jake remained oblivious to the cry as he briskly made his way toward the avatar quarters. "Jake, slow down!" The human voice went unheard as the Marine strode past several Na'vi individuals who were gathered, their expressions filled with growing concern.
"Jake! Wait a minute!"
The voice finally broke through, but Jake's patience had all but evaporated. Turning around, he shouted, "What is it?!"
Passed his blind annoyance, he realized he was shouting at Norm, who, standing at half his height, waved papers to Jake's face. "Jake! This is very-very important!" he exclaimed, pointing at the papers clutched in his hand. "I just heard what happened and Max was observing the latest meteorological reports. It's not good news. There is a big ass plasma storm rolling over the northern forest of the mountains. It's all bad. Purple from here to Kingdom Come. We're talking about end-times kinda stuff. We need to get Tipani out of there now!"
Jake glanced down at the papers. Despite their small little letters and colorful map, the sharp vision gifted by the avatar allowed him to make out the meteorological output, proving that Norm was right. Not that Jake ever doubted Norm, but he hoped Norm was wrong just this once. On the output, shades of ominous purple smeared across the map like some ominous jelly stain, slowly advancing towards the area where the Tipani had established their camp.
"These are nasty, Jake. If she's out there and the Tipani are out there. I mean, I don't even want to think about it."
"Understood," Jake responded, lifting his gaze from the papers. His attention shifted towards the stationary Samsons parked on the plateau. "We don't have enough Samsons to make a single trip. Neytiri said there was uh,"
Peyral came in time to help Jake. "Fifty-two, Olo'eyktan."
"Fifty-two?" Jake repeated, surprised by the number. He swore it was around thirty. "How many can the Samsons take, Norm?"
Norm shrugged respectfully. "We use to have three, but there was a malfunction in the Gray Fox. So we're looking at maybe… ten tops, maybe twelve if we really squeeze them in there. But uhm, there is also a weight limit, Jake. The more we put in, the harder the Samsons will have to get up in the air. Ten might in fact just prevent the Samsons from lifting at all. And with those high winds, it will play havoc with the weight and balance."
"Shit!"
"The ikrans are not going to be enough," Norm said, continuing, "the moment the storm hits, they're useless. Those wind speeds will kick them around like balloons on a fat kid's birthday party in a hurricane. They won't be able to fly, let alone carry one out. So everyone needs to be quick. No sightseeing."
Jake looked at the ground, searching for a solution, then pulled his attention away to look over to Peyral, then to Norm again.
"How soon before the storm hits?"
Norm examined the papers, counting silently on his fingers before responding, "Two hours. Tops."
Peyral may not have fully grasped the numerical value, but she recognized the urgency in Jake's eyes and looked to him for a potential course of action.
"We don't have enough banshees either." Norm begrudgingly added onto the pile of bad news. "The Tipani's ikrans are currently sick with something. Julian has been trying to figure it out. The Omatikaya? Me plus twenty-five other active riders. We can do it, but I'm tellin' you Jake. We're going to cut it close."
"Damnit, Norm." Jake said.
"One more thing," Norm said, wincing at his own painful realization of not bringing this up earlier. "The Tipani are not going to get on those Samsons. They were already hesitant to wear the damn throat mikes. Imagine trying to get them in the loud, metal birds? Not unless we have Amanti on board to ease them in."
Peyral nodded in agreement. "He is right, Olo'eyktan. Our interactions with the Tipani were less than joyous whenever it came to having the Tipani use the Sky People's equipment."
Jake briefly looked over to the Tipani camp, wondering how he could persuade Amanti to get aboard a Samson.
"What are you saying, Norm? We're just shit-out-of-luck?"
Norm bit down on his bottom lip and conceded to that obvious statement. "Not unless we act now. The sooner, the better."
As they were circling on the discussion, Asher emerged from the science shack, his gaze gradually shifting from one side of the camp to the other until it settled on the group where Jake stood. Sensing the chaotic atmosphere and the Na'vi seemingly in a state of disarray, with Jake at the center of attention, Asher's intuition told him that something was deeply wrong.
"All right," Jake conceded. "I'll check with Amanti to see if she can join us in the Samsons. But if she doesn't want to. What's our plan B?"
Norm looked over to all the other tall Na'vi before scratching his head. The damn straps on the masks lately were beginning to give him itches. "Plan B is…"
Ninat, walking up beside Peyral, volunteered herself. "I can be in it."
Jake smiled at the singer. "Great. Get your gear but be on standby, Ninat."
"Yes, Olo'eyktan," said Ninat as she swiftly left the group.
Jake pointed to Peyral next. "Peyral. I need you to gather every available rider."
Peyral nodded and promptly left to rally the riders.
Norm made a noise that he forgot one last thing.
"What the hell is it, Norm?" Jake asked, visibly annoyed that Norm hasn't managed to give him the entire rundown of what was happening.
"I forgot. The avatars are not going to work in that storm. The plasma will wreak havoc on our connections. I'll disconnect once I go in. This includes our radios and visual instrumentation. You won't be able to reach Neytiri if she's in that mess."
Jake sighed. "You're not making this easy Norm."
"It's Pandora, remember?"
Jake wanted to chuckle be kept himself reserved. "Fine. Stay behind but get the camp ready. Clear the avatar quarters for now and make room for potential wounded. Understood?"
"Yup!"
"Thanks Norm. We'll meet right here once we're squared away."
"Gotcha!" Norm said as he ran back to the science shack.
Turning around, Jake set off to find the Tipani clan leader. Navigating through the unfamiliar territory of the Tipani camp, Jake felt a sense of disorientation. He rarely ventured into their section unless it was necessary to see Amanti, and now he found himself wandering aimlessly, going left and right, almost in circles. It was then that Tsmupxa, a member of the Omatikaya, spotted the Olo'eyktan and approached him.
"Olo'eyktan, are you looking for mother?" Tsmupxa asked.
"Yes. It's urgent."
"I can tell from your face," the young man said, gesturing to Jake's rather pensive expression. "Follow me."
Kxeyìn glanced up and noticed Tsyeyk Suli approaching their marui. She swiftly secured the threaded string over her bow and softly called out to her mother. "Olo'eyktan Tsyeyk Suli, Mother."
Amanti emerged from within the marui, her hands still arranging her headdress, when her eyes met Jake's. His expression betrayed a blend of anxiety and fear, and in that instant, she sensed what the problem was. "Your mate is missing?"
Jake's ears flattened against his head, a gesture indicating his acknowledgment of the rapidly spreading news. "Yes, but—"
"I will help if you need it, Olo'eyktan."
His tail swayed favorably to hearing that, but he was afraid of what he needed to say next. "Amanti. Our Sky People friends have discovered a problem. A serious one."
She smirked at the statement. Rarely do Sky People make friends with the Na'vi, but knowing what Jake meant, she listened.
"There is a storm, a great one, heading to where your People are camping. We must go now if we are to save them."
Amanti tilted her head, her curiosity sparked as she observed Jake's earnest expression. She found his concern somewhat amusing, considering the battles they had endured as a clan. The notion that a mere storm could deter her People also seemed unlikely to her. Letting out a soft chuckle, Amanti shook her head. "My People are not afraid of storms, Olo'eyktan Tsyeyk Suli."
"Amanti. This storm appears to be deadly."
Her ears perked up momentarily, but then drooped, indicating her lack of understanding.
Jake knew he didn't have the luxury of explaining everything in detail, otherwise it would be pulling teeth with her to get her in a Samson. "The Sky People have a way of knowing how storms come and go. And right now, they believe this one is very dangerous, and it will kill your people if we do not save them."
She made a clicking sound with her tongue as she approached the Omatikaya Olo'eyktan. "Tell me, Olo'eyktan. How do the Sky People know of how storms come and go?"
"I'll tell you later. Right now. I need you to come with me. I need you aboard the metal ikran."
She made another click sound with her mouth, visibly irritated by such a request. "You want me on those things?"
Jake nodded. "Right now, Olo'eykte Amanti."
"If it as serious as you say it is—"
Jake was now getting frustrated. "It absolutely is."
"Then I will come," Amanti declared.
"Tell your children and your People that they must prepare to receive your wounded," Jake instructed.
Amanti nodded, turning to address her children. "Kxeyìn, Tsmupxa. Get your brother and help our People. The rest of our people will be arriving shortly."
"Yes, mother," Kxeyìn said, rising from her seat.
"Mother, do you need me to come?" Tsmupxa asked, stepping forward to Amanti.
Amanti smiled warmly, appreciating her children's willingness to assist. However, she needed them to stay where it was safe. She reached out and gently touched Tsmupxa's shoulder, pulling him closer as she bowed her head against his.
"No my son," she whispered softly. "Your help is here. With our People."
"Yes… I understand mother."
"Good. Now get Srìlo."
Turning back to Jake, she nodded to him. "Let us depart to save my People, Olo'eyktan."
"Great, this way, Olo'eykte," Jake responded, leading the way.
And just as Jake turned with his thoughts, he spotted Asher off in the far distance, his avatar form wandering around to see if he could talk to a scientist or another avatar.
"Ah shit," Jake mumbled.
Amanti looked at Jake with a puzzled expression, not understanding the strange words spilling out from his mouth.
"Excuse me," Asher called out to an avatar walking by. "What's going on here?"
The avatar glanced back at Asher and shook his head. "It's you."
"Yeah. My name is Rayan Asher. UNE." Asher introduced himself, extending his hand for a shake.
The avatar looked at Asher's hand and let out a laugh. "C'mon man. We're busy."
"I can see that. What's going on?"
The avatar continued walking without responding, heading towards the avatar quarters where the large canopy was located. However, sensing that Asher was following him, the avatar decided it would be best to share what was happening, even if it was solely a Na'vi matter and not directly related to the UNE.
"We have a class-five plasma storm rolling in through the mountains, and it's heading for the Tipani first," the avatar finally revealed.
Asher's tail flickered in response. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
The avatar knelt beside a container, picking it up, and replied, "Just stay out of our way."
"But—" Before Asher could finish his sentence, Jake grabbed his arm and swiftly pulled him away from the avatar canopy.
"The hell are you doing here, bloodhound?"
Asher searched Jake's eyes, his surprise evident in his expression as he spoke up, "You told me to come early so we can work on the treaty—"
"Not today. Go back!" Jake yelled, releasing Asher's arm as the Marine walked back to his family's marui.
Asher stood for a moment, contemplating his next move as Amanti passed him, her gaze meeting his with a mix of curiosity and a hint of challenge before breaking off to follow after Jake. He knew he could obey Jake's instructions and go back, leaving the situation to the Na'vi as they clearly had it covered. But as he glanced at his watch, the blue stripes on his arm served as a reminder of his avatar's capabilities, a tool that could very well be used in this instance. If he was in his human body, Asher would have definitely ran back into the science shack without a second thought. But this was an avatar, and standing at nine-foot something, he wasn't just going to go back to write more reports to the General.
Catching up to Jake, Asher mustered his courage and spoke, "Sir. I'm trained as a combat medic. You can—"
"What part of 'go back' do you not understand, bloodhound?" Jake responded sharply.
By now, Tuktirey emerged from the tent-structure, her eyes still heavy with sleep as she surveyed the commotion unfolding around her. Jake's paternal instincts took over as he jogged over to her and gathered her up in his arms, holding her close.
"Dad, what's going on?" Tuktirey's innocent voice asked.
"It's okay, sweetheart. The Tipani need our help sooner than expected. Your mother and I are going to assist them. Just stay here with your siblings, okay? We'll be back soon."
She looked at him with those wide eyes of hers, reflecting the unease that started to churn in her stomach, understanding that things were far from okay. Jake quickly brought her over to where Neteyam and Lo'ak were already lending a hand. Setting her down on the ground, Jake then knelt down to one knee as he gently placed his hands on her shoulders, his gaze meeting hers.
"I need you to stay with your brothers and sister, okay? No running around. No playing around."
She bowed her head, frowning. "Yes, sir."
"Good girl," Jake said, smiling, as he pulled her in closer and hugged her. "And keep an eye on your brothers for me."
She grinned, "yes sir!"
Pivoting, he snatched the load-carrying equipment that hung alongside the wall of the marui and slung it around his body, snapping the connections together across his chest. He removed the magazines from the ammunition pockets and gave them to Lo'ak who was standing outside by the entrance.
"Don't play with them," Jake warned.
"Yes, sir," Lo'ak replied, clutching the magazines tightly.
"Jake," Asher called out, catching up with him. "I'm not here to interfere with the Na'vi. As a diplomat I can be of assistance. Just point me in the right direction and I'll do whatever needs to be done."
Jake abruptly halted, spun around and struck Asher in the chest with his shoulder, delivering a powerful impact. Asher staggered, but his quick reflexes saved him from falling to the floor.
"This is what you're going to do, bloodhound," Jake asserted firmly. "You're going to go back to the science shack and stay there. Disconnect from the avatar. Don't return here until tomorrow afternoon when we have everything under control. Is that understood?"
After a few moments of silence, Asher nodded in resignation.
"Good," Jake acknowledged, turning again to head towards the rookery.
As they walked, Lo'ak, holding the magazines in his hand, couldn't resist making a comment. "Dad really doesn't like you," he said in broken English.
Asher gave a quick look to the boy before retreating back to the science shack.
"Norm!" Theo shouted, trying to catch up with the scientist as they crossed paths in the science shack. "Wait up, man."
Norm turned to face him. "What's up?"
"Okay, listen," Theo said, taking a moment to catch his breath. "You're going to like this. The Gray Fox? She's good to go my man. But all we need to do is give her a good jump start. That's it. Me and Ilram have been working on getting that bastard operational since last week and he swears up and down that he's got it working. Y'know how he is. He thinks he can get anything working with those Korean hands of his. But he says we need a battery to test his theory out and when I went to go get one, there was none left. The hell happened to all those batteries we picked up before we left for this place?"
Norm shrugged. "Don't know. I thought Ori took one to experiment with the fusion reactor?"
Ori, in the white lab coat and monitoring Grace's avatar, looked up from his notepad and shook his head. "Nope. I returned it."
"Hmh," Norm glanced around before snapping his fingers. "Ah. I remember now!"
"Good, because I was about to slap you."
"Yeah, that's real nice of you." Norm said as he walked over to the link unit station. "We were using the battery to supply Crazy Harry because one of the wires ended up melting. And since no one was going to use the unit without some adequate power, well, here you go."
The battery sat beneath the link unit. Kneeling down, Theo managed to disconnect the wiring before bringing it out from underneath the unit. Thankfully, its cylindrical shape was comfortable enough to be placed beneath his arm as Theo gave him a wave to Norm.
"I'll be right back," Theo said, darting towards the exit. Just as he left, Asher entered the main laboratory.
"Back so soon?" Max commented, passing by.
Asher didn't respond, making his way through the lab.
"Y'know, this isn't exactly a good time for you to be walking around, we got the Tipani coming, and we need the space. Why don't you help out with the others outside?" Norm asked, stepping in front of Asher.
"Jake requested I go back. So, that's what I'm doing." Asher replied.
Norm burst out laughing. "No-no. Sorry but we're going to be using your room for emergencies. And seeing that you're here already, why don't you make yourself useful? Besides. If Jake says anything, I'll take responsibility. Right now, he's just pissed that Neytiri went off to help the Tipani without anyone to be with her."
Asher shared a subtle look of surprise at that revelation. Here, he thought their life was in perfect working order. It seemed that not everything in Paradise was great. After a brief moment of contemplation, Asher decided to decline the request. He was not one to interfere in the lives of others, especially if it might endanger the mission. Glancing down at his watch, he found an excuse to say, "Yeah, but it's late."
Norm squinted before looking down at his own watch hidden behind a white sleeve. "It's seven in the morning, what the hell do you mean?"
Asher was already on his way towards the corridor. "It means I need to get going."
Norm sighed and ran off after him. "Hey-hey. Hold up. You're a diplomat right?"
"Right."
"Doesn't that mean you're here to help?"
"I'm not here to go against the wishes of the party that I am here to oversee a treaty. So no."
"That's a helluva word salad. But you're not going back. Like I've said literally a few seconds ago. You can't use that room."
Asher stopped and glanced down to the human, taking a quick sip from his mask. "Then where can I go?"
"Right now? Nowhere. You're stuck with us until this situation with the Tipani can be resolved."
"Article 295 states I cannot help unless requested by the faction leader."
Norm cocked his head and brought both hands over his waist, an expression of 'seriously?' overcoming his face. "You're a long way from Earth. And right now. Jake isn't here. I need you to be here with us."
Asher disagreed. UNE rules were design to prevent him from instigating any problems when it comes to delegating between Earth and her colonies. "No sir."
"Yes sir you will." Norm said mockingly but also seriously. "Or I'll have you locked inside a cell, where you'll stay there until Jake comes back."
The diplomat had a look of confusion when he said, "you guys have a jail here?"
For a second, Norm held his serious face before breaking out in a chuckle. "No, we don't. But right now. We have a lot of problems, and we could use you."
"And the responsibility will be on you?"
"Look, if you need a witness, I can get Max."
Asher held up his hand to say it wasn't necessary. "Okay. But I can't do anything that will aid in hurting the RDA or other Na'vi."
"Dude, c'mon. It's us."
"I need to say that so you're aware."
Norm shook his head, grinning. "Fine. Follow me."
Norm climbed onto a chair and whistled to everyone in the science shack. "Hey. Listen up! This is Rayan Asher." The scientist announced, gesturing to the tall avatar standing in the lab. "He's going to be helping us this morning. So please, don't give him any shit. Because if you do, he might go back crying to the RDA and he'll have us nuked from orbit."
No one laughed, except Max who then quickly grew serious when he heard no one else laughing. Most of all, Asher gave Norm a sideways glance as though to suggest it didn't sound right.
"Right now, as you know, we have a critical situation. A class-five plasma storm is going to come over the Tipani and curse them with terrible plasmatic thunder. It's very dangerous and I expect some of the Tipani might get burned, or God-forbid, die. So we'll need to clear this lab, we're gonna move Dr. Augustine's amnio tank to the rear and bring out the avatar beds. Everyone got it?"
Various nods and determined expressions responded to Norm's instructions. He turned to Asher and said, "Alright. Come with me."
Jumping down the chair, they left the science shack together.
Outside, Norm adjusted his mask while yelling at an avatar who was trying to drag heavy equipment across the ground. "Don't do that! You're going to ruin the container!"
"Sorry Norm!"
Walking along the path, Norm stopped and pointed in the distance. "Okay, you see the Na'vi over there trying to make room?"
Asher glanced up and across the way to find several Na'vi indeed making room. One of them was an avatar. "I need you to help them out."
"But they're Na'vi," Asher replied.
"Samantha is with them."
"I don't speak Na'vi."
Norm looked surprised. "I thought you knew?"
Asher shook his head. "I only know the greeting. I don't speak it."
"Then how the hell did you get an avatar?"
"Long story. But I don't think the Na'vi want me there either."
Norm grinned. "I don't want you here. But guess what? You're here. Just help them out and don't talk. Oh and don't make eye contact. Samantha will do all the talking. But I better get going. If you need anything, let Sam know!"
Before Asher could ask any more questions, Norm vanished, leaving him on his own. He swallowed nervously and looked ahead. None of them had noticed Asher yet and the diplomat wanted it to remain that way. In fact, he was beginning to regret pushing his help on Jake. Without realizing it, his khaki boots started to lead him in their direction. And just when Asher thought none of them saw him, he flinched and started to walk the other way when he heard.
"Hey you!"
His ears leaned back.
"Yeah. You with the bandage around your neck. You're Rayan, aren't ya?"
He turned around and nodded, clearly caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Get your ass over here. We need your help."
Straightening up, Asher made his way over to the group where Sam sized him up. "Grab that end, will ya?"
Asher looked down at the container marked 'MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES' and walked over to the other end. The crate was massive for something marked 'miscellaneous' but Asher wasn't about to ask what was in it.
"C'mon," Sam urged as she knelt on her end. "On the count of three. One. Two. Three."
Together they heaved it up and began waddling towards a pillar rock column. Dropping it, Sam walked by.
"You need to do better than that, Rayan." Sam stated before running over to another crate. Pointing to his end, she motioned for him to pick it up.
"The hell are you doin' here anyways? Don't you have some RDA butt kissing to do?"
Asher strained, finding this crate to be even heavier than the previous one. "I… was but it looks like… you guys… need my help."
She laughed as they brought it over again to the rocky column and stacked it on top of the previous container. "Come. I need to see those muscles working. We got more to do."
"Roger."
Standing by his ikran, Bob, Jake took one look around to the surrounding riders and gave the signal by twirling a pair of fingers into the air.
The Omatikaya let out a fierce war cry as they mounted their banshees and positioned them at the edge of the chasm. Each banshee scraped the ground with their sharp talons, eager to take flight when the riders gave them permission.
Peering over the chasm, Jake turned the switch on his radio device nestled on the harness and pressed down on the push-to-talk button of the throat mike. "This morning. You did not awake to find yourself seeing the Tipani as your brothers and sisters. But today, they are."
A cheer erupted.
"That means I need everyone to keep an eye on one another. No heroics. Neytiri is among them, and she too needs our help too. Stick close to me. If you feel the wind threatening to hurt your ikran, return home. I will not put that against you. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Olo'eyktan," came the voices through his earpieces.
"Pilots, are you good?" Jake requested.
Across the way, where Jake could see them, the pilots flashed a thumbs up, barely visible against the morning light and the shadows of the cave. "All good here, Jake!"
"Excellent." Glancing to the riders on either side, Jake nodded and dove first into the chasm.
The tip of Bob's beak sheared through the air before his wings flapped open, revealing his intricate colors as the winged-dragon turned up and headed towards the north. The fleet of Omatikaya riders followed suit, their banshees flying in formation.
Directly behind the banshees were two Samson's. Code named Vanquish and Untouchable. The Tipani clan leader, Amanti, sat in Vanquish. She tried to sit as still as possible, not desiring to look out from the hull of this strange metal ikran for fear she might fall out as there was nothing to hold onto, other than straps that was cutting into her flesh.
Across the sky, the ominous plasma storm loomed like a titan of calamity. Dark, massive walls of thick, ugly clouds rolled with malevolence, while streaks of purple lightning crackled and flashed across the belly of the storm. Too far for anyone to hear.
Seeing this, Jake cursed at himself for allowing Neytiri to go alone. The memories of yesterday's battle came flooding back, threatening to cripple his logic with senseless emotions. Shaking his head, he forced himself to focus, but the creeping fear for her life started to erode his concentration.
"Damnit, Neytiri," he whispered, a mix of worry and determination filling his heart. A thoughtful signal went down through the connection to Bob, urging him to fly faster. The ikran responded with a chirp and flapped his wings even harder.